Never mess with a classic dish! But I can't help myself sometimes. It's difficult not to allow imagination and creativity to have a say. Let's take the classic pasta and meatballs. I love it, Soeren loves it and Tom loves it too. We are probably amongst several thousands who enjoy this simple yet delicious classic dish. There are as many different recipes for a pasta and meatballs dish as there probably are cooks that make this.

I have made several variations too, sticking to some great traditional recipes. One thing however, was common with all the recipes - they were time consuming. If I wanted to cook up a good, mouthwatering meatballs and pasta meal I had to often plan ahead. The tomato sauce needs to reduce for and hour, the ground meat needs to be spiced, shaped and cooked - all in all it was not really a meal that you just whipped up on the spur of the moment.

The fact that we really enjoy our pasta and meatballs and wanted it more often made me play around a little. The motivation behind it was an attempt to create a similar type of dish but something that was easily prepared - even for a quick weeknight dinner.

It's not easy to please my men - when they have a taken a liking to a particular flavor or have a notion of how a dish is supposed to taste they are not easily convinced. I always get the look of skepticism when I announce that I am experimenting on a beloved recipe. Not all experiments work. But this one - this one was genius.

This meatballs and pasta recipe gives the classic dish a new dimension, it's a modern makeover for the working or stay at home busy mums. It's quick to make saving on time but not on flavor. By using good quality and flavorful ingredients this is a delicious way to serve the all new meatballs and pasta.

Remove the skin from the sausages and break off small pieces. Using your fingers form small balls and stir-fry in the oil.

Reduce to heat to medium and allow the sausages to brown evenly, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.

In the remaining fat sauté the chili, onions and garlic until transparent and fragrant.

Add the tomato paste, cook for a few minutes, then add the chunky tomatoes and the vegetable broth. Sprinkle with the dried herbs, cover and allow to simmer for 10-15 minutes.

A few minutes before the cooking time in up add the peas and stir well. The sauce should have thickened nicely. Season to taste and then add the lamb meatballs. Heat through. Add the thyme, reserving a few for decoration.

Cook the fresh pasta in a large pot with a lot of salted water. This should take just a couple of minutes.

Drain the pasta and then transfer to the pan with the meatballs and sauce. Toss well.

Serve pasta and meatballs in warmed deep plates, sprinkled generously with the buffalo mozzarella. Decorate with a few thyme sprigs.

Serving tips:

Serve with a large mixed green salad for a perfect dinner.

You can use any flavorful, spicy sausage for this. I preferred the lamb sausage as my organic store makes them with a lot of aromatic herbs and they are so full of flavor. It's also a lot leaner than the regular bratwurst. A great alternative would also be the Italian Salsiccia.

Verdict

Have I re-invented the wheel here? I do know, one thing I can tell you though, I had the jury licking their plates clean! It's a basic recipe I agree, but what makes this dish really kick is that the products are of a good quality, the lamb sausages were full of flavor and the sauce - simple but full of aromatic herbs with a hint of heat. Most of all it's a quick, easy and down-right good home-cooking.

As I've featured a lot of Italian herbs and my favorite thyme in this recipe I'd like to send it over to The Daily Tiffin, for this week's session of Weekend Herb Blogging. My team mate Dee is hosting this spectacular event over at the DT.

How can we resist not messing with a recipe, however great a recipe is, we foodies are all about adding our own special touch to it, and it looks like yours was a golden touch in this one. Looks absolutely delicious, and it is just my kind of recipe -quick and easy. I'll try it with some whole wheat pasta.

hehe i can imagine what you must go though when you say its not easy to please your men :)! i adore a hearty meatball and pasta meal too, and couldn't agree more that it needs a good hour or so. This sausage version is lovely and how nice to add green peas in there.Love the variation. I've tried pasta with beef sausage, but i've never got my hands on some lamb ones.

No messing with the classics but a little tinkering around here and there is defn allowed :) This is such a rustic dish,I can imagine several generations sitting around a table together, swapping stories while guplping down bowlfulls of pasta :)

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Hello, I am Meeta a freelance food photographer, stylist and writer living in the cuturally rich city of Weimar, Germany with my husband and our son, where I enjoy preparing multi-cultural home cooked meals with fresh organic ingredients. What's for lunch, Honey? is my award winning food blog where I combine my love for food with my love for photography and styling...